TEHRAN - India looks all set to send astronauts to space by 2022 in its ambitious space program, which got a major boost this week with BJP government approving budget for it.

India’s union cabinet approved Rs. 10,000 crore 'Gaganyaan Programme' that envisages two unmanned and one manned flight to space in next three years.
Senior Indian minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was quoted saying by IANS news agency that three Indian astronauts will be sent to space for up to seven days by 2022.
The space program was announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, the country’s Independence Day. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore, which includes the cost of technology development, flight hardware realization and essential infrastructure elements.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the IANS report said, will collaborate extensively with various national agencies, laboratories, academia and industry to accomplish the objectives of program.
While the ISRO will be responsible for realizing the flight hardware through industry, national agencies, laboratories and academia will participate in crew training, human life science technology development initiatives as well as design reviews, the report said.
First human space flight demonstration is targeted to be completed within 40 months from the date of sanction. Prior to this, two unmanned flights in full complement will be carried out to gain confidence on the technology and mission management aspects.